Storytime and Reading Opportunities at the Library

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is offering a winter reading challenge and several exciting storytime programs for kids of all ages beginning in January.

For kids in grades 3-10, the library is offering the Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Program. Participants have until Feb. 13, 2009 to complete a 500 page reading goal. Readers score points for each page read from a book, magazine, or newspaper. All participants will receive a Milwaukee Bucks poster, stickers and bookmark when a reading record is turned in. 500 points scored earns each participant a voucher for a free ticket to one of two select Milwaukee Bucks Basketball games. Students who read more than 750 pages will have their names entered into a drawing for an official Milwaukee Bucks autographed basketball. Six randomly selected children will participate in the Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup for each game date and 10 randomly selected children will be recognized at halftime for each game date. Reading logs and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Youth Services Dept. at the Main library or the Mobile Library. Call 262.636.9245 for more information.

You'll find the library's enthusiastic storytellers on the road this month as they perform a Saturday morning event for kids from ages 3-10 and their families. On Saturday, January 30 at 9:30 am , a storyteller will be present at Cup of Hope, 507 Sixth St., to entertain with an hour of stories and a simple craft. Enjoy a leisurely morning of quality family time and a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. These Saturday Family Storytimes will be held monthly on the last Saturday.

The library's popular preschool storytimes, held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., will begin on January 19 and run until March 10. Children from birth to age 5 may attend these 30 min. events. The programs feature fingerplays, stories, music and more designed to develop age-appropriate early literacy skills. Children who are able to sit in storytime on their own may attend the Preschool program. Children who prefer to be accompanied by an adult may attend the Infant & Toddler program. Both programs are held simultaneously at 10 a.m.

New to the library's preschool storytime schedule is the addition of Educational Open Play days. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30-12:30 and Fridays from 11 am-1 pm, the library will turn its storytelling room into an educational exploration area with a wide variety of educational toys and learning aids available. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Play days are held during the storytime season only.

The library is also offering an After-School Storytime with stories and crafts geared to kids ages 3-10. The next event in this series will be held on Tuesday, January 26 from 3:30-4:30 pm. Monthly after-school storytimes will be held on the 4th Tuesdays.

School age children in grades 1-5 are invited to spend 15 min. reading to one of the library's specially-trained listening dogs in the Ruff Readers Program. These canine friends visit the library after school several days a week. This is a fun way for kids to practice reading to a non-judgmental and gentle listener. Time slots available on a first-come/first-served basis. This season's Ruff Readers program will begin on Monday, Jan. 18, 2009. Call the library at 262.636.9245 for days and times, or to reserve a reading spot.

Kids ages 3-10 and their families are also invited to attend Family Fun Nights once a month. These hour-long events explore a variety of topics through stories, games, activities and crafts. The next event, We Have a Dream, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Join the storytellers as they celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other significant figures in Black History.

All storytime events are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary unless otherwise indicated.